Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal environment in an every-changing external environment. When the body is having trouble maintaining the balance, disease or even death may occur.
What an organism needs to maintain homeostasis-
Nutrients
Oxygen
Water
Body Temperature
Atmospheric Pressure (Gases)
The primary systems that maintain this balance in the body are:
The Nervous System
The Endocrine System
Homeostatic Control Mechanisms-
Stimulus-causes the imbalance within the internal environment (Ex: temperature)
Receptors(sensors)- monitor the environment
Receptors- Signals along the afferent pathways to the control center.
Two Negative Feedback Mechanisms:
Negative Feedback Loop(most common): When the body is not in the optimal range it reacts to get back in the normal range
Ex) Starvation->Low Blood Glucose->Pancreas Converts Glycogen into Glucose->Normal Blood Glucose
2. Positive Feedback Loop: The initial stimuli causes an increasing reaction from the body.
Ex) Nursing a Baby->Oxytocin and Prolactin produced in the Pituitary Gland->Increase Milk Production
What an organism needs to maintain homeostasis-
- Nutrients
- Oxygen
- Water
- Body Temperature
- Atmospheric Pressure (Gases)
The primary systems that maintain this balance in the body are:Homeostatic Control Mechanisms-
Two Negative Feedback Mechanisms:
- Negative Feedback Loop(most common): When the body is not in the optimal range it reacts to get back in the normal range
Ex) Starvation->Low Blood Glucose->Pancreas Converts Glycogen into Glucose->Normal Blood Glucose2. Positive Feedback Loop: The initial stimuli causes an increasing reaction from the body.
Ex) Nursing a Baby->Oxytocin and Prolactin produced in the Pituitary Gland->Increase Milk Production